Recent research has shown that most Americans own firearms for self-defense reasons. A recent armed citizen episode in California is living proof of how owning a gun and knowing how to use it when the chips are down saved the life of one Golden State grandfather—and his grandchildren.

According to a report at kcra.com, the 70-year-old man and two grandchildren, ages 14 and 4, were at his business in Rancho Cordova, California, when an early-morning break-in on November 24 changed his life forever.

The man, who manages the business, stays in the building. That night, his grandchildren were asleep in the back with him. At about 1 a.m., his older grandchild shook him awake, telling him someone was trying to break in.

“All of a sudden, the guy kicked the door,” the man said. “Boom and boom! It was that quick.”

As the man rushed into the building, the grandfather knew he had only two choices—to become a victim or defend himself and his family.

“We’d have been dead if he would have got my gun when I pulled it out because he continued to go towards me, he wasn’t afraid of me,” the man said.

In the aftermath, the man said he didn’t want to shoot the intruder, but that was the only choice left to him since he had to protect himself and his grandchildren from harm.

“Am I upset about him?” the man said. “Yes. I didn’t want him to break in, but I’m very happy that my babies are alive.”

While the break-in and shooting remain under investigation, a sergeant with the Rancho Cordova Police Department said break-ins are common, and local citizens are getting tired of being victims.

“Residents are fed up,” said Sgt. Amar Gandhi. “Residents don’t want to be a victim. Business owners don’t want to be victims anymore, and they’re taking their matters into their own hands.

“This isn’t something that we’re encouraging vigilantism by any stretch, but at the same time, you have to applaud him. He demonstrated restraint. He did what he had to do to protect the people inside and including himself,” Ghandi said.

Officers arriving at the scene found the unidentified intruder, said to be in his 30s, dead of gunshot wounds inside the building. The investigation into the shooting continues, but investigators said they do not believe the grandfather will be arrested or face any charges in the matter.